Joy and Patrick Visit

Paul, Bridget, Patrick and Joy among the orchids.

Anatomy class.

In May, there was a three day Puentes de Vida http://www.icdi-cr.org/project/puentes-de-vida  (Bridges of Life) training at Centro Emanuel and 22 Cabécar women attended. Some of them walked 4 to 8 hours from the more remote regions of the reservation, some areas where we currently have no maternity and infant health promoters. It is exciting to see the interest in this second series of classes.  Drs. Judith Dunteman and Cynthia Villavicencio taught the classes and enlisted Yendre and Ana Rosible, two of our veteran health promoters, to share some of their experiences.  In June the trainees came to our center in Grano de Oro to take an exam over the material from their May class.  Pray for these women and those training them as they overcome language barriers and hike through the reservation during rainy season when the trails can be treacherous. Donate to the Puentes de Vida project for trainings and materials and, as more health promoters graduate, to pay their salaries. 

 

Joy and Patrick processing books for our library.

At the end of May our daughter Joy and her husband Patrick came for a visit and brought 40 books for the Centro Emanuel library.  We appreciate everyone who donated books and money for this project. You can still make a donation to www.Gofundme.com/pasomarcoslibrary or purchase books on Centro Emanuel Library wish list and we can arrange to have them brought by teams and individuals coming to visit us in Costa Rica.  Joy and Patrick repaired and processed the books they brought.  Patrick also worked with Paul on some maintenance projects and Joy helped fellow missionary, Lori Friedly, and me (Bridget) host a Spa Day for some of the ladies in the neighborhood. It is really wonderful having this kind of support from our kids.

Paul enjoyed holding the toucan.

However the kids visit wasn’t all work; we also saw some of the sites while they were here.  We got up close and personal with some wildlife at La Paz Waterfall and Gardens.  The highlight for Paul was holding a toucan, his favorite bird.  In Cartago, we toured the Basilica, the ruins of Santiego Apostol (St. James Apostle) Church, and Lankester Gardens. Apart from all we did, we most enjoyed just spending time with them and catching up on what has been going on in their lives since they got married last year.  We were happy to get to know Patrick better and feel he is really a great addition to our family.

While the kids were visiting, we were also able to purchase a car, a 2000 Mitsubishi Montero Sport.  A week later we baptized it, in a manner of speaking.  Actually we took it to town one evening to buy groceries and had to drive through a creek because a bridge was taken down earlier that day so it could be replaced.  Later that evening it rained cats and dogs and the creek rose.  But the car made it through just fine, though my (Bridget’s) nerves were a little shaken.  We want to especially thank Dan and Lori Friedly and Mark and Marge Long who graciously lent us cars during the past eight months.  Thanks also to each one who gave so generously to provide us with a car.

Our visit to La Paz Waterfall & Gardens.

Serving Him,

Paul and Bridget